Schools in Zip Code 54914

ZIP code 54914 contains 11 schools — 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools — all part of the Appleton Area School District, which serves about 3,896 students in this ZIP and ranks 253rd of 432 districts statewide (41st percentile, 2 stars). That district-wide rating hides a remarkably wide spread of school performance in one local area.

Three schools stand out at the top. Odyssey-Magellan, a middle school serving grades 2–8, ranks 2nd of 643 middle schools with 5 stars, posts proficiency levels from 90% to 100%, and has just 1.9% chronic absenteeism. Fox River Academy (K–8) ranks 96th of 1,039 elementary schools with 5 stars and 7.4% absenteeism. Renaissance School ranks 11th of 533 high schools with 5 stars, a 100% graduation rate, and 0% dropout. By contrast, West High, the largest school at 1,024 students, ranks in the 24th percentile with 33.1% chronic absenteeism, an 88.0% graduation rate, and 2.7% dropout — below district and state. Wilson Middle and elementaries including Highlands, Badger, and Jefferson also rank in the bottom quartile. Houdini Elementary sits in the middle: 47th percentile, 7.2% absenteeism, and above-district results in some subjects.

Two patterns are worth noting for families. First, chronic absenteeism divides these schools sharply — under 8% at the top performers versus 22%–33% at West High, Renaissance, and Wilson. Second, per-pupil spending and class size do not predict results here: Highlands spends the most ($21,507) yet ranks in the 17th percentile, while Odyssey reports the least ($4,871) and ranks near the top. Renaissance has the highest student-teacher ratio (35.9) alongside excellent outcomes. Comparing individual schools, rather than the district average, gives the clearest picture.